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Installing GitLab on Ubuntu

Introduction​

Installing GitLab via Docker is indeed the most efficient way to get up and running on Ubuntu. Because GitLab is a "complete" DevOps platform, it contains many moving parts (PostgreSQL, Redis, Nginx, etc.); putting them in a single container simplifies maintenance significantly.

Prerequisites & Hardware​

GitLab is resource-intensive. For a smooth experience on Ubuntu, ensure your machine meets these minimums:

  • RAM: 8 GB (GitLab can run on 4 GB, but it often crashes during updates).
  • CPU: 4 Cores recommended.
  • Storage: 10 GB+ (SSD highly recommended).

Step 1: Set up the Environment​

To ensure your data survives if the container is deleted or updated, you must create persistent storage directories on your Ubuntu host.

# Create a root directory for GitLab data
sudo mkdir -p /srv/gitlab

# Define an environment variable for easier commands (optional but recommended)
export GITLAB_HOME=/srv/gitlab

Step 2: Deploy GitLab using Docker Compose​

While you can use a single docker run command, using Docker Compose is better for long-term management because it stores your configuration in a file.

  1. Create a project directory: mkdir ~/gitlab-docker && cd ~/gitlab-docker
  2. Create a file named docker-compose.yml: nano docker-compose.yml
  3. Paste the following configuration:
version: '3.6'
services:
  web:
    image: 'gitlab/gitlab-ce:latest'
    restart: always
    hostname: 'gitlab.example.com' # Replace with your domain or local IP
    environment:
      GITLAB_OMNIBUS_CONFIG: |
        external_url 'http://gitlab.example.com' # Replace with http://your-ip
    ports:
      - '80:80'
      - '443:443'
      - '2222:22' # Map container port 22 to 2222 to avoid host SSH conflict
    volumes:
      - '$GITLAB_HOME/config:/etc/gitlab'
      - '$GITLAB_HOME/logs:/var/log/gitlab'
      - '$GITLAB_HOME/data:/var/opt/gitlab'
    shm_size: '256m'

Note on Port 22: Ubuntu uses port 22 for its own SSH. By mapping GitLab’s SSH to 2222, you prevent conflicts. When cloning repos later via SSH, you'll just use ssh://git@your-ip:2222/....

  1. Start the container:
sudo docker compose up -d

Step 3: Accessing GitLab​

The initialization process takes 3–5 minutes. GitLab has to run several internal "reconfigure" scripts the first time it boots.

  1. Monitor the progress: sudo docker logs -f gitlab-docker-web-1 (Wait until you see "GitLab configured!")
  2. Open your browser and go to http://<your-server-ip>.

Step 4: Retrieve the Initial Admin Password​

GitLab generates a random password for the root user upon installation.

Run this command to find it:

sudo docker exec -it gitlab-docker-web-1 grep 'Password:' /etc/gitlab/initial_root_password

  • Username: root
  • Password: (The string returned by the command above)

Important: This password file is automatically deleted after 24 hours. Change your password immediately in the GitLab User Settings.

Managing your Instance​

  • Stop GitLab: sudo docker compose stop
  • Update GitLab:
sudo docker compose pull
sudo docker compose up -d
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